Washing machine

ABSTRACT

Drum type washing machine is disclosed, including a cabinet having a base plate, a tub fixedly secured to an inside of the cabinet, a drum positioned in the tub for holding washing water, a rotation shaft connected to a rear of the drum, a bearing housing assembly for supporting the rotation shaft, buffering and supporting members connected between the bearing housing assembly and the base plate, and fastening means for fastening the bearing housing assembly to the cabinet releasably.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to drum type washing machines, and more particularly, to a drum type washing machine in which a fastening structure of a tub and a drum to a cabinet is improved for transportation of the washing machine while increasing a capacity of the washing machine.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the washing machine is an appliance for washing laundry by using courses of washing, and rinsing, spinning to remove contaminant from the laundry in the drum by using action of washing water supplied to the tub and detergent.

The washing courses of the washing machine will be reviewed. As first, an amount of the laundry, such as clothes and the like, introduced to the drum is measured, amounts of the washing water and detergent, and a total washing time period are set according to the amount of laundry measured thus, and a washing course is performed according to the total washing time period, in which dirt is removed from the laundry with friction between the washing water and the laundry caused by rotation of the drum.

Once the washing is finished, dirt washing water is drained from the tub, and fresh washing water is supplied to the tub, and the rinsing course is performed, in which the laundry is rinsed for a preset number of times. Then, if the rinsing course is finished, the water is drained from the tub, a spinning course is performed, in which the drum is spun at a high speed, to remove the water from the laundry, and, additionally, the laundry can be dried by a drying course.

However, a related art washing machine has vibration directly transmitted from the drum or a driving unit, such as a motor, to the tub during operation of the washing machine. Due to this, the tub can not, but be mounted spaced a distance from the cabinet for preventing the tub vibrating thus from interfering with the cabinet.

In this instance, if it is intended to increase a capacity of the washing machine, because a problem is caused, in which an installation space of the washing machine becomes greater due to enlargement of the tub, which leads to enlargement of the cabinet, there have been needs for modification of components and fastening structures thereof in the washing machine for the same sized cabinet.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine in which a fastening structure of a tub and a drum to a cabinet is improved for transportation of the washing machine while increasing a capacity of the washing machine.

Technical Solution

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet having a base plate, a tub fixedly secured to an inside of the cabinet, a drum positioned in the tub for holding washing water, a rotation shaft connected to a rear of the drum, a bearing housing assembly for supporting the rotation shaft, buffering and supporting members connected between the bearing housing assembly and the base plate, and fastening means for fastening the bearing housing assembly to the cabinet, releasably.

Preferably, at least two fastening means are provided.

Preferably, the bearing housing assembly includes, a bearing housing for supporting the rotation shaft, and first and second brackets connected to opposite sides of a lower side of the bearing housing, respectively.

Preferably, the fastening means includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member for fastening the first and second brackets to the cabinets.

Preferably, the first bracket includes a first securing weight connected to one side of a lower side of the bearing housing, and a first supporting bracket connected to the first securing weight and extended forward, and the second bracket includes a second securing weight connected to the other side of a lower side of the bearing housing, and a second supporting bracket connected to the second securing weight and extended forward, wherein the first fastening member fastens the first securing weight to the cabinet, and the second fastening member fastens the second securing weight to the cabinet.

Preferably, the fastening means further includes a third fastening means for fastening an upper side of the bearing housing to the cabinet.

Preferably, the bearing housing includes an upward extension and the third fastening member fastens the extension to the cabinet.

In the laundry machine, the tub may be fixedly supported, or be supported by a flexible support structure, such as the suspension unit.

Further, the tub may be supported in an interim state between the fixed support and the flexible support.

That is, the tub may be flexibly supported by the suspension unit or be rigidly supported. For example, the tub may be supported by the suspensions, be supported by rubber bushings to provide less flexible movement than when supported by the suspensions, or be fixedly supported by being fixed somewhere by screws or so.

For another instance, the cases where the tub is supported more rigidly than when supported by the suspension unit are as follows.

Firstly, the tub may be made integrally with the cabinet.

Next, the tub may be supported by being fastened by screws, rivets, rubber bushings, etc. Also, the tub may be welded or bonded to the cabinet. In this cases, the supporting or fastening members have larger stiffnesses than a stiffness of the suspension unit with respect to the main direction of the vibration of the drum.

The tub may be expanded within the limits of a space in which the tub is placed. That is, the tub may be expanded until the circumferential surface thereof reaches (or almost reaches) a side wall or a side frame (for example, a left or right plate of a cabinet) restricting the size of the space at least in the lateral direction (the direction laterally perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft when the rotary shaft is horizontally placed). The tub may be made integrally with the lateral side walls of the cabinet.

The tub may be formed to be closer in the lateral direction to the wall or the frame than the drum. For example, the tub may be spaced away from the wall or the frame by an interval of less than 1.5 times an interval with the drum. Under the condition that the tub is enlarged in the lateral direction, the drum may also be enlarged in the lateral direction. Further, if the lateral interval between the tub and drum is reduced, the drum may be expanded in the lateral direction in direct proportion. When the lateral interval between the tub and the drum is reduced, the vibration of the drum in the lateral direction may be considered. The weaker the vibration of the drum in the lateral direction, the more expanded is the diameter of the drum. Therefore, the suspension unit to reduce the vibration of the drum may be designed such that rigidity of the suspension unit in the lateral direction is greater than rigidities of the suspension unit in other directions. For example, the suspension unit may be designed such that rigidity of the suspension unit against displacement in the lateral direction is greatest compared with rigidities of the suspension unit against displacements in other directions.

Further, the suspension unit may be directly connected to the bearing housing supporting the rotary shaft. That is, the bearing housing comprises a supporting portion to rotatably support the shaft and an extended portion extended from the supporting portion, and the suspension unit is attached to the supporting portion of the bearing housing or the extended portion of the bearing housing.

The suspension unit may include brackets extended in the axial direction. In a front loading type laundry machine, the brackets may be extended forward, namely towards a door.

The suspension unit may comprises at least two suspensions which are arranged distant from each other in the axial direction of the shaft.

The suspension unit may comprise suspensions placed below the shaft for standing support. The supported object (for example, the drum) is supported by the suspensions to stand alone.

Alternately, the suspension unit may comprise suspensions placed over the shaft for hanging support. In this case, the supported object is supported to be hung.

The mass center of the vibrating object (for example, a combination of the drum, the shaft, the bearing housing, and the motor) may be located, with respect to the center of the longitudinal length of the drum, at a side where the motor is located. In a front loading type laundry machine, the mass center may be located behind the longitudinal center of the drum. In this case, at least one suspension may be placed in front of or behind the mass center. One suspension may be placed in front of the mass center and another suspension behind the mass center.

The tub may be provided with an opening at a rear portion thereof. The drive assembly may be connected to the tub by a flexible member. The flexible member may seal between the tub and the drive assembly to prevent water from leaking through the opening of the rear portion of the tub, and allow the drive assembly to move relatively to the tub. The flexible member may be made of a flexible material which can do the sealing, for example, a gasket material like a front gasket. In this case, the flexible member may be referred to as a rear gasket for convenience. The rear gasket may be connected to the drive assembly under the condition that the rotation of the rear gasket at least in the rotational direction of the rotary shaft is constrained. In one embodiment, the flexible material may be directly connected to the shaft. In another embodiment, the flexible material may be connected to a portion of the bearing housing.

Further, a portion of the drive assembly, which is located radially inside the rear gasket and thus is likely to be exposed to the water in the tub, may be made so as no to be corroded by the water. For example, the portion of the drive assembly may be coated, or be surrounded with a separate member made of plastic such as the tub back (which will be described below). In a case where the portion of the drive assembly is made of metal, the portion may not be directly exposed to water by the coating or the separate plastic member, and thus corrosion of the portion may be prevented.

Further, the cabinet may not be necessary. For example, in a built-in laundry machine, the laundry machine without the cabinet may be installed within a space of a wall structure. However, even in this case, a front plate forming the front face of the laundry machine may be required.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention has following advantageous effects.

Because a fastening structure of the tub and the drum to the cabinet is improved for transportation while increasing a capacity of the washing machine, transportation of the washing machine can be made safely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of buffering and supporting means in the drum type washing machine in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate diagrams showing fastening means mounted to left and right sides of a rear of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 1 and a bearing housing assembly matching thereto, respectively.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate diagrams showing fastening means mounted to an upper side of a rear of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 1 and a bearing housing matching thereto.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention schematically, and FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the drum type washing machine includes a cabinet 110 which forms an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a tub 120 in the cabinet 110 for holding washing water, and a drum 130 in the tub 120 for holding laundry.

The cabinet 110 includes a front plate which forms a front thereof, and a base plate 112 which forms a bottom thereof. Together with this, the cabinet 110 includes a rear plate 114, side plates 115, and a top plate which form a rear, opposite sides, and a top side, respectively.

The front plate 113 is arranged on a front side of the cabinet 110 facing a user, and has a laundry opening for introducing the laundry therethrough, with a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet 110 for opening/closing the laundry opening.

The base plate 112 is arranged on a bottom side of the cabinet 110 for seating other components in the cabinet 110 thereon.

It is preferable that the base plate 112 is constructed of a metal plate for making safe supporting of the tub 120 and the drum 130.

That is, since the tub 120 is seated and fixedly supported on tub supporting members 121 on the base plate 112, and the drum 130 is also connected to the base plate 112 with a buffering and supporting member and supported thereby, it is preferable that the base plate 112 is constructed of a metal plate which has high supporting strength.

In other words, since the tub 120 is seated and fixedly secured to the base plate 112 with the tub supporting members 121, and the drum 130 is also connected to the base plate 112 with the buffering and supporting member, the base plate 112 takes loads of the tub 120 and the drum 130, intensively. Due to this, it is preferable that the base plate 112 is constructed of a metal plate which has high supporting strength against the loads.

The tub 120 is in the cabinet 110 fixedly secured to the base plate 112 of the cabinet 110 with the tub supporting members 121.

The tub 120 has a front opening for introduction of the laundry therethrough, and a circular rear opening in a rear thereof.

There are a front gasket 122 mounted to a rim of the front opening, and a tub back wall 160 and a rear gasket 124, both of which will be described later, mounted to the rear opening.

The tub supporting member 121 is constructed to seat and fixedly secure the tub 120 to the base plate 112.

That is, it is preferable that the tub supporting member 121 on the base plate 112 projected a distance up therefrom has four supporting points spaced regular distances from one another for supporting the tub 120, dividing a load the tub 120, equally.

Since the drum 130 is not mounted to the tub 120 directly, as the drum 130 is mounted to the base plate 112 of the cabinet 110 thus, the tub 120 does not receive vibration from the drum 130, directly.

Owing to this, since it is made possible that the tub 120 can be mounted such that an outside surface thereof is the closest to the cabinet 110, with an increased volume thereof as well as an increased volume of the drum 130 which the tub 120 house, a laundry capacity of the washing machine can also be increased.

Together with this, mounted on a top side of the tub 120, there are a water supply hose for supplying water to the tub 120 from an external water source, a water supply valve on the water supply hose for controlling in/out of the water, and a detergent supply unit for holding detergent so that the water being supplied trough the water supply hose is introduced to the tub 120 together with the detergent.

Mounted under the tub 120, there are a drain hose and a drain pump for draining the washing water used for washing or rinsing the laundry to an outside of the washing machine.

In the meantime, the drum 130 has lifts 131 on an inside circumferential surface for lifting the laundry in the drum 130 to a certain height, and pass through holes 132 for allowing the washing water to escape from the drum 130 in a washing course such as spinning.

A motor 151 mounted in rear of the tub 120, i.e., in rear of the bearing housing 170, is coupled to the drum 130 through a rotation shaft 150 for rotating the drum 130.

The rotation shaft 150 is connected to a rear of the drum 130 for rotating the drum 130 in association with the motor, and passed through a center of, and supported on, the bearing housing 170 in rear of the drum 130.

Of course, the bearing housing 170 has bearings therein for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft 150, horizontally.

The bearing housing 170 is fixed to a tub back wall 160 which forms the rear of the tub 120.

The tub back wall 160 is configured to form the rear of the tub 120.

In this instance, since the tub back wall 160 is configured such that the tub back wall 160 forms the rear of the tub 120 in front of the bearing housing 170, the tub back wall 160 is formed circular in conformity with the circular rear opening.

Thus, the tub back wall 160 has a center portion thereof through which the rotation shaft 150 rotatably passes, and serves to fix the bearing housing 170 in rear thereof thereto for supporting the rotation shaft 150 connected to the drum 130.

The tub back wall 160 is connected to the tub 120 with a flexible rear gasket 124 mounted along an outside circumference of the rear opening of the tub 120.

In the meantime, the present invention further includes buffering and supporting means connected to the base plate 112 for buffering and supporting the bearing housing 170 for buffering and supporting the drum 130, at the end.

The buffering and supporting means includes a bracket unit fastened to a lower side of the bearing housing 170 and a plurality of buffering and supporting members fastened to lower sides of the bearing housing 170 and the bracket unit, respectively.

The bracket unit includes a first bracket 183 and a second bracket 184 coupled to opposite sides of the lower side of the bearing housing 170, and extended forward, respectively.

The first and second brackets include first and second securing weights 182 a and 184 a and supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b.

The first and second securing weights 182 a and 184 a arranged a distance apart in a lateral direction have upper ends fixed to the opposite sides of the lower side of the bearing housing 170, respectively.

The first and second supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b are connected to lower ends of the first and second securing weights 182 a and 184 a and extended a distance forward therefrom, respectively.

The buffering and supporting member mounted on the base plate 112 is mounted under the first and second supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b for supporting the first and second supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b, respectively.

That is, the first and second supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b have front ends coupled to first buffering and supporting members 186 a respectively, and rear portions of the front ends coupled to second buffering and supporting members 186 b tilted forward, respectively.

Along with this, the bearing housing has a middle portion of an under side coupled to a third buffering and supporting member 186 c mounted on the base plate 112, vertically.

Of course, the buffering and supporting members are not limited to above, but any buffering and supporting members can be used as far as the buffering and supporting members can buffer and absorb impacts and vibration in a structure like the washing machine.

The buffering and supporting means attenuates vibration taking place at the drum 130 and the motor 151 during operation of the washing machine by buffering and supporting an assembly including the drum 130, the rotation shaft 150 and the bearing housing 170.

The bearing housing assembly includes the bearing housing 170, and the first and second brackets 182 and 184.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the bearing housing assembly is releasably fastened to the cabinet 110 with fastening means.

At the time of transportation, such as taking out of a warehouse and delivery, there is a high risk of the drum 130 supported by the buffering and supporting means to shake and hit the tub 120 fastened to the cabinet 110.

That is, since, while the tub 120 is fastened to the cabinet 110, the drum 130 is supported by the buffering and supporting means having the buffering and supporting means, permitting movement within a certain range, the drum 130 can hit the tub 120 at an inside surface thereof when the drum 130 shakes heavily.

In order to prevent damage to components, and even an accident caused by negligence of safety caused by the drum 130 hitting the tub 120 due to the shaking of the drum 130 during the transportation, the present invention includes fastening means for fastening the drum 130 with respect to the cabinet 110.

In this instance, the fastening means is releasable selectively for fastening the drum 130 to the cabinet 110 only during the transportation.

Along with this, it is preferable that more than two fastening means are provided.

That is, it is preferable that, for fastening the drum 130 to the cabinet securely during the transportation for preventing the drum 130 from shaking, the fastening means fastens the drum 130 to the cabinet 110 at one or more than one points.

The fastening means includes first and second fastening members 191 and 192 for fastening the first and second brackets to the cabinet 110 respectively, and a third fastening member 193 for fastening the bearing housing connected to the drum 130.

Of course, a portion of the cabinet 110 to which the first and second brackets 182 and 184 and the bearing housing 170 are fastened is the rear plate 114 in rear of the drum 130.

At first, the first and second fastening members 191 and 192 fasten the first and second brackets 182 and 184 to the cabinet 110, respectively.

Since the first and second brackets 182 and 184 are coupled to opposite sides of the lower side of the bearing housing 170, the first and second brackets 182 and 184 can make balanced and thereby secure fastening of the drum 130 to the cabinet.

In this instance, it is preferable that the first fastening member 191 fastens the first securing weight 182 a of the first bracket 182 to the cabinet 110, and the second fastening member 192 fastens the second securing weight 184 a of the second bracket 184 to the cabinet 110.

Alternatively, the first and second fastening members 191 and 192 may fasten the opposite sides of the lower side of the bearing housing 170, or the first and second supporting brackets 182 b and 184 b, to the cabinet 110.

If it is a fastening structure in which the first and second fastening members 191 and 192 fasten the lower side of the bearing housing assembly to the cabinet 110, there is no limitation in that any parts of the lower side of the bearing housing assembly are fastened to the cabinet 110.

Together with this, the third fastening member 193 fastens an upper side of the bearing housing 170 to the cabinet 110, wherein it is preferable that an upper point of the bearing housing 170 positioned over the rotation shaft in a shaft direction is fastened to the cabinet 110.

Owing to this, the point fastened by the third fastening member 193 balances in left/right directions, permitting secure transportation of the washing machine.

In this instance, the bearing housing 170 includes an upward extension for making easy fastening of the third fastening member 193 thereto, and as the third fastening member 193 fastens the extension 170 a of the bearing housing 170 to the cabinet 110, the cabinet 110 and the bearing housing 170 can be fastened together, rigidly.

In the meantime, in order to fasten the drum 130 to the cabinet 110, the first, second and third fastening members may be used together, or, different from this, only the first and second fastening members 191 and 192 may be used, or only the third fastening member 193 can be used.

In this instance, the fastening member is a bolt member having a thread on an outside thereof, and, of course, in certain portions of the cabinet 110 and the bearing housing assembly, holes or recesses are provided in conformity with the bolt member for fastening the bolt member thereto.

The fastening member is not limited to above, and any type of fastening member is applicable as far as the fastening member can fasten the bearing housing assembly to the cabinet 110 selectively.

Since the third fastening member 193 fastens an upper side of the bearing housing and the first and second fastening members fasten the lower sides of the bearing housing assembly, securing the drum 130 to the cabinet 110 rigidly, safe transportation of the washing machine can be made.

Owing to this, damage to the drum 130 and the tub 120 can be prevented, and even an accident caused by negligence of safety can be reduced. Along with this, the minimum shaking of components in the washing machine permits the workers to transport the washing machine, safely and easily.

Above configuration having a structure for fastening the tub 120 to the cabinet 110 permits to enlarge the tub 120, enabling to increase a capacity of the washing machine, and satisfying the needs for improving components of the washing machine and fastening structures of the components to the washing machine.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet having a base plate; a tub to hold water therein; a drum positioned in the tub for holding washing water; a rotation shaft connected to a rear of the drum; a bearing housing assembly for supporting the rotation shaft; buffering and supporting members connected between the bearing housing assembly and the base plate; and fastening means for fastening the bearing housing assembly to the cabinet, releasably.
 2. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two fastening means are provided.
 3. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing housing assembly includes a bearing housing for supporting the rotation shaft, and first and second brackets connected to opposite sides of a lower side of the bearing housing, respectively.
 4. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening means includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member for fastening the first and second brackets to the cabinets.
 5. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first bracket includes a first securing weight connected to one side of a lower side of the bearing housing, and a first supporting bracket connected to the first securing weight and extended forward, and the second bracket includes a second securing weight connected to the other side of a lower side of the bearing housing, and a second supporting bracket connected to the second securing weight and extended forward, wherein the first fastening member fastens the first securing weight to the cabinet, and the second fastening member fastens the second securing weight to the cabinet.
 6. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening means further includes a third fastening means for fastening an upper side of the bearing housing to the cabinet.
 7. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bearing housing includes an upward extension and the third fastening member fastens the extension to the cabinet. 